Stacking machine



1 615 Z50 Jan. 25 y 1927 G' WILCOX 2 s STACKING MACHINE Filed Deo. v1, 1923 5 Sheecsf- Sheei 1 Jan. 25 1927. 1,615,250

G. wlLcox STACKING MACHINE Filed Deo. 1. 1923 5 SheetSf-Sh't' 2 MMM@- '1,615,250 Jan 25 1927" G.- wlLcoX STACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1925` 5 sheets-sheet' 4 /07 /af //0 .gl

Jan 25 1927' G. wlLcox STACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheetv 5 lPatented Jan. 25,1927.

UNITED STATES A 4N1,615,256 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WILCOX, oF itvERsIDE, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoR 'ro CALIFORNIA CANNINav MACHINERY, Co., A CORPORATION oF CALIFORNIA.

STACKING MACHINE.

Application mea December 1, 1923. serial No. 677,946.

This invention relates to mechanical dcvices for stacking objects such as boxes ortrays in regularly arranged stacks. The mvention is suited for use in various industries and is particularly useful in the canning industry in relation to which I-shall hereinafter describe the utility of the device with the definite understanding that it is to be l in no way limited to the particular use described.

In the canning industries, hot'cans from the cookers are arranged .in trays, these trays being subsequently stacked in cooling rooms where the cans areallowed to 4cool before storage or labeling and packing for shipment. The device hereinafter described is especially adapted for use with a can arranging machine which is fully described. 1n my application for patent on can-arranging device filed March 28, 1923, Serial No.

628,249. This can arrangement machine places the cans in trays and provides a roller'conveyer alongwhich the trays are d1- rected to a stacking machine of the character hereinafter described 'which is arranged to place the trays in stacks so that they may be readily transported.

It is an object of the inventionlto'provide a stackin machine, which will take trays or other o jects from a conveyer or platform and deposit them, one upon the other in an vevenl formed stack.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in this device automatic means for controlling the Operation of4 the stacker, this means being adapted to Operate in consequence of the placement of a tray in position -to be engaged and lifted bythe Icarriers of the stacking machine.

It is a further Object of the invention to provide a means Iwhereby the stacking machine will be made inoperative when a definite number of trays have been placed in a stack, thus preventing the piling of :the rays beyond a certain predetermined numier. f .It isa further object of the invention to provide a latch means which holds the stacking machine inoperative until the stack has been moved free and clear from the machine.

It is a further object of the invention tov provide in this device a means for automatically placing the stack platforms in receptive position, thus eliminating the personal element from this portion` of the stacking Fig. 3 is a section taken upon the p ane represented by the line 3'-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, viewing the device as indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the operation of the control mechanism,

which causes the operation of the device when a tray is placed inrece tive position.

Fig. 6 is perspective view, s owing the relation between the cam and the star wheel.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken as indicated by the line 7-7, in Fig. 3.

Fig.- 8 is an enlarged diagrammatic view taken as indicated by the line 8 8 in Fig. 4 and showing. the operation of the lock mechanism which prevents the operation of the machineuntil after the removal of the full vstack of tra-ys. j.

Fig.l 9 is lan enlarged view showing the operation of the lift fingers of the carrier members.

As shown in thedrawings, my invention employs a pair of side supporting frames 10 and 11, which are suitably interconnected by cross'structure as indicated at 12.4 Between standards 13 mounted on the tops of the frames 10 and 11,A a shaft 14 extends,

The leftw'ard end 15 ofthe shaft 14 which is disposed above the frame 10 has pulleys 16 and 17 rotatably mounted thereupon. The pulley 16 serves as a free running idler pulley and the pulley 17 is adapted for use as a drive pulley and is equipped with an eX- tending hub 18, having clutch jaws 19 formed thereupon. Adjacent to the'hub 18 is placed a sliding clutch member 21, which is splined upon the shaft 14 as indicated at 22 in Fig. 7. By moving the clutch member 21 outwardly from the position in which it. vis shown, driving engagement may formed between the pulley 17 and the shaft 14. Upon the 'shaft 14 a pair of drive pinions 23 are secured which engage gears 24 rotatably mounted upon stub shafts25, held in bearing blocks 26 situated upon the tops of the frames and 11. Mounted upon the inner ends of the shafts are sprocket wheels 27 which are of the same size and through the cooperation of the gears 23y and 24 are drivable at the same rate of speed in ille direction indicated by the arrow 29 in ig. 2.

As shown particularly in' Fig. 2, large sprocket wheels 30 are placed adjacent to the sprocket wheels 27, these sprocket wheels, being mounted upon stub shafts 31 as shown in Fig. 1. Upon the'inner faces of the frames 10 and 11 at points below the sprockets 29 and 30, small sprockets 32 are placed, thus providing upon each frame a system of four sprockets over which a traveler in the form of a chain 34 may run. At regularly spaced points-in the chains 34 attachment fixtures 35 are placed. In the form of the invention shown three of these lixtures 35fare employed, as at 35, 35*1 and 35", Fig.

2, from which three carrier members 36 may be suspended by hanger rods 37, which at all times throughout the travel of the traveller or chain 34 hang in vertical positions as shown inFig. 2. Each of the carriers 36 is comprised of a flat plate member, having inwardly extended lifting lingers 39, as shown in Fig. 9. These lifting fingers due to the disposal of their mass ordinarily rest in an extended position, but are upwardly swiugable, so that they may pass trays which have been previously stacked.

As shown in Fig. 2, a roller conveyer 40 extends inwardly from the rear and between the side frames 10 and 11, and provide means whereby a tray as indicated at 41 may be conveyed into a position wherein it may be engaged by the carriers 36 and deposited in a stack, as indicated by the dotted lines at 41c and 41e', upon a stack platform 43. The machine is designed to operate in periods, in other words, the movement thereof is so controlled that upon the placement of a tray in the position indicated by the dotted lines 44 of Fig. 5, the tray will be engaged and lifted by a carrier 36, whereupon, the travel will stop until the placing of another tray in position upon the conveyer. In this manner, means. is provided whereby the machine operates only during such tunes asa tray is in place to be lifted and stacked. The chain 34 does not travel continuously and it is therefore possible to place a tray in position upon the platform 40 with the entire assurance'that itis going to be pro erlyengaged bythe carrier, owing to t e fact that the carriers remain in the respective position indicated in Fig. 2 until a tray 41 is moved against the operating lever 47 whereupon a carrier 36 will move upwardly and advance to the position of the carrier indicated at 36, `the lifting fingers 39 thereof engaging the tray reposing upon the conveyer 40 in the manner shown in Fig. 9, and carrying it to the position indicated at 41.

The tray will remain in the position just indicated, pending the placement of another tray against the lever 47, whereupon the mechanism will advance through another period, bringing the first mentioned carrier to the position 36b and the lirst mentioned tray from the position indicated at 41a to the position indicated at 41b in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. During the next periodicoperation of the machine, the first mentioned carrier then travels downwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines 36c and the tray is deposited upon the platform 43, as indicated at 41C, 41. .I f

This periodic operation of the machine is controlled by the following mechanism: Adjacent to the lower right hand sprocket 32, mounted in the frame 10, is a shaft which has a four pointed star wheel 56 mounted upon the inner end thereof and a four pointed cam 57 situated at the outer end thereof, the relative positions of the star wheel 56 and the cam 57, being shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6.

Upon the exterior of the frame 10, an operating arm 59' is mounted. This arm is pivoted at an intermediate point upon a bracket 60, which is secured to the frame 10.

As shown in- Figs. 3 and '4, the arm 59 has j mounted upon the shaft 55, that when thc points or arms 66 of the star wheel 56 are disposed in true verticaland horizontal positions; or in other words, the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the roller 61 of the lever 59 will rest upon the points or high spots 64 of the cam 57 Therefore, whenever the star wheel is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the lower end of the arm 59 will be held in outward position by the cam 57 and the clutch member 21 will be correspondingly heldl out of engagement with the pulley 17. Therefore, it will be seen that thedevice will not operate when the star wheel is-in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The operating lever 47 isinounted upon a horizontal shaft 70, from whlch there extends an arm 71 having a long pawl 72 ivoted thereto at the outer end thereof. The arm 71 is held resiliently upwardly by a spring 73 and a spring 74 1s employed to hold the pawl 72 in a rearward wardly upon the conveyer 40 into the posi- Wardly extending lever 92 is secured upon cated by the dotted lines whereupon the lower end of the arm 59, and being adapted .15 roller to moveinwardly under the action of wardly when the cam is again disposed into a compression spring 78- with the result that a position -to allow `the return of the arm.

2i) drive pulley 17. The carrier-chain 34:.will and the clutch mechanism held out of en- "5 a34 between the sprockets 3U. indicated by the dotted direction with the lower end 75 thereof, rest'- 89 which is mounted b means of pillow `ing against a pin 76, mounted upon one of blocks 90'upon the outsi e of theA side frame the arms 66 of the star wheel 56. When the 10 and has the lower end thereof bent fortray indicated-at 41 in Fig. 2 is moved forwardlyvin the form of a lever 91.l A reartibn indicated by the dotted lines44 in Fig. the vertical shaft 89 as shown in Figs. 4f and 5,`the operating lever 47`is rotated rearward- 8. The rearward end 93 of the lever 92 overl.ly with the result. that the arm 71 and the lies the toe '94 of a latch member 95, this pawl 72 are moved. into the positions indilatch member being situated adjacent to the v 75 star wheel `is moved into the position indito swingl over when the lower end of the cated b the dotted lines, which brings one arm 59 is disposed outwardly into the posiof the ollows .55 of the cam 57 into contion indicated in full `lines in Figs8, which .junction with the roller 6I, allowing` the prevents the arm from again swinging inthe yoke 62 mounted uponthe upper end of Therefore, it will be seen that during the en. the arm 59 moves the clutch member 21 into gagement of Vthe latch 95, the lower end engagement with the hub 18 formed uponthe-y of the arm 59 is held in an outward position then advance. in the mannerfheretofore degament, thus preventing the operation of the scribed, a fixture 35, Fig. 2, moving downdevice, no matter whatthe movement of thewardly from the position 35'and around. the star wheel maybe. sprocket-32', across the extensionof the chain The roller 86 is disposed in such-a posi- 32, and upwardly tion that it will beengaved andmoved rearinto the positions indicated at .35, as also in- Awardly by each tray as the tray moves downdicated in Fig. 5. It will be perceived that wardly upon the stack 41, 41. This swingthe end 82 of one of the'arms66 of the star ,ing of the roller 86 and the arm 88 into the wheel 56 will bein the-path of the carrier, position indicated by the full lines in Fig.

lines 83, las it moves 8, causes a rotation of the shaft 89 in the upwardly into the position indicated in full direction of the arrow Y with the result lines 84. .The star wheel 56 will therefore,l that the lever 192 is swun .outwardly and lbe engaged by the carrier and rotated from theflever 91 swung inward y from the posi-r 'the diagonal position indicated by dotted `tions from which they are shown in dotted 35.1incs to the erect position indicated in full lines in Fig. 8. Therefore, it will be lseen 10 right of Figs. 2 and 5. It will 'be recognized. one

lines,.whereupon another 'point 64 of the cam that during the time, the roller 86 is de- 57 will come into-position underthe roller pressed, thel latch 95 will be. free to swing 61, causing the outward movement o f the underth'e'action of the spring 102 into 'enlower end ofthe arm 59 and a'corre'spon gagement position with the lower e'nd of the ing inward `movement. of the upperi end arm 59. This release of the latch 95 is only 135 thereof, which draws the clutch member 21 momentary during the passage of the trays out of engagement with the pulley 17. `This into position upon the stack and up to the will-result in the stopping of the carrier in j time the stack is completed occurs onlyvdurthe position indicated in full lines at the ing the time that the roller 61 is resting in y of .the hollows 65 of the cam 57, there- 110 that the continued eriods of operation are fore, having no ei'ect upon the operation of produced by'repetitlons of the movement of the device. When the -stack 410, 41"" has the star wheel through the medium of the been built up to its entire height or, in .control lever 4:7,v causing -the -periodic enother words, until the top tray depresses and gagement and disengagement ofthe clutch remains in positiona y mechanism. the arm 88 will be held back until the stack -Fromthe foregoing, it will be seen that 42- is removed. Thereforez when vthe star the device operates only-,when there is a tray wheel is turned into a position bringing a placed in proper position upon the conveyer point 64 of the cam beneaththe roller 61 and and it also -maintalns the horizont-ality ofthe causing Nthe outward movement of the lower 1"-0 i trays during the handlingof .thesame end of the arm'v 59, the latch will drop into The'invention also provides means wherethe position \of engagement shown in Fig. by the device-isfprevented from operating 8,l thus holding the lower end of the arm after a designated. number of trays have been 59 in outward position, even though the 's tar placed in' the stack indicated 'at 413,141l in wheel 56 may be turned into active position 125 Figf2.y In this figure, a roller86'is shown dueto the placement of another p tray in l' mounted, by means of an adjustment bracket position upon the conveyer 40.

Gainst the. roller 86,

87,l upon thehorizontally extending -arm88 which, as shown in Figs. 3 'and 8, is bent in- 05 war'dly at the upper 'end' of a verticalshaft The 4invention further provides means for I preventing -therelease of the' latch 95 untill k after the stack 42 has been removed, entirely f Ia rearwardly extending 'hook 111 formed upon the end thereof, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 8. When the stack has been filled lto its entire height and the stacking machine thereupon rendered inactive, a truck is wheeled up the platform to lift the .stack 'and carry same to some point of storage.

It will be remembered that during the time -the stack is in place in the machine, the lever 91 is held in inwardly swinging position as indicated in Fig. 8. Therefore, when the truck is wheeled upon the sloping platform 105 and the spring means 108 depressed, so that the forward end 107 of the sloping platform drops down and the hooked end 111, moves downward into a position in front of the forward end 115 of the lever 91, which prevents the swinging of the lever 91 into the outward position indicated by the .dotted lines. The stack of trays may then be lifted by the truck, the upper 'end of the truck 4swinging awayfrom the roller 86. By the presence of the hook 111 in positionbefore the end 115 of the lever 91, the shaft 89 is prevented from rotating in `the direction opposite to the arrowr 100 and bringing the lever 92 against the toe 94 of the latch 95 so as to release the lower end of the arm 59.

The weight of the truckd upon the sloping platform 105, holds it in depressed position until the stack of trays is removed entirely clear of the machine, and the platform is not `allowed to rise under the action of the spring means 108 until after the truck has been wheeled off therefrom. Upon the removal of the truck from the platform 105, the hook 111 moves upwardly into a position of dis'- engagement, relative to the end 115 of the arm 91, allowing the arm to swing outwardly with the result that the arm 92 and the roller 86 return to their normal positions at rest, indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 8, whereupon the latch 95 is swung back into the position shown in dotted lines, allowing the operation of the mechanism to be controlled entirely by the star wheel and cam arrangement. t

The4 platforms 43 upon which the trays are stacked are kept in reserve upon a sloping slide structure 120 as shown in Fig.

2 and when a stack of trays and the platform 43 upon which the stacks rest, is removed from th'e machine the adjacent tray as indicated at 121 slides down into receptive posi-tion. With this arrangement,-

it is unnecessary for the truck man to stop and place a platform in the machine, and by'this arrangement, the unsatisfactory conditions arising'from the failure ofthe truck man to properly place 'aplatform is entirely eliminated as the platforms are placed upon the slide 120 in reserve by the traying machine attendant. l

By providing the platforms 43 with legs 44, Fig. 3, a space 45 is left thereunder into which the nose of a truck may be easily eX- tended. This facilitates the moving of the stack as it is generally diiiicult to force the nose of the truck under one stack, especially when it is of considerable weight, when the stack rests on the Hoor.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a stacking machine, the combination.

of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said,

traveller; starting'means, operative in consequence of the placing of` an object to be stacked in position to be engaged by one of said carriers, for causing said driving meansv to advance said traveller; and locking mechanism for preventin the movement of said traveller when a stac of predetermined size has been formed.

2. In a stacking machine,the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for drivlng sald traveller; starting means, operative in contance; and locking mechanism for prevent-l ing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed. p

3. In a stacking machine, the lcombination' of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, operative in consequence of the placing` of an ob'ect tok be stacked in position'to be engaged y one of said carriers, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; and locking mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of' predetermined size has been formed; and latch mechanism for holding said locking mechanism active until said stack has been gnoved entirely clear of said stacking machine. Y

4. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, operative in consequence of the lacing of an object to be stacked in position to be engaged by one ofsaid carriers, for causing said driving forstopping said driving vmeans when-,Said

f stacking machine.

traveller has been; advanced a designated distance; and locking. mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed; and latch mechanism for holding said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said 5. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means,for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; and locking mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller When a staclrjof predetermined size has been formed.

6. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving saidtraveller; starting means, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; and means for stopping said driving means when said traveller has been advanced a designated distance; and locking mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed. y I

7. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, for `causing said driving means to advance said traveller; and locking mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed; and

latch mechanism for holding'said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stacking machine.

8. In a stacking machine, the combinationl of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; and

means for stopping said driving means when said traveller has been advanced a designated distance; and locking mechanism for preventing the Vmovement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed; and latch mechanism for holding said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stacking machine. V l

9. In a stacking machine, the combination of; a continuous traveller; carriers disposed rupon said traveller; means for driving'said traveller; starting means, operative in con# sequence of the placing of an object to be stacked in position to be enga ed by one of said carriers, for causing said riving means Ito advance said traveller; locking mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed; a depressible'member over which said stack is removed from said stacking machine, said member beingso disposed that it is held depressed until said stack is entirely clear of the machine; y and latch mechanism operative by the depression of said depressible member for holding Said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clearA of said stack-I ing machine.

l0. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, operative in consequence of the placing of an object to be stacked in position to be enigaged by'one of said carriers, Vfor causing' ler; and meansfor stopping said driving means when said traveller has been ad# y vanced a designated distance; ,locking mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed; a depressible member over which said stack is removed from said stacking machine, said member being so Adisposed that it is held depressed'4 until said stack is entirely clear of the machine; and latch mechanism operativel by the depression of said depressible member t'or holding said locking mechanism active until said stack has been movedentirely clear of said stacking machine.

11. In a stacking machine, the combination of z' a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, forcausing said drivingmeans to advance said traveller; means for stopping said driving means when said traveller has been advanced a designated distance; a depressible member over which said stack is removed from said stacking machine, said member being so disposed that it is held depressed until said-stack is entirely clear of the machine;- and latch lmechanism operative by the depression' of `predetermined size has been` formed; a depressible member overv which said stack is removed fromsaid stacking machine, said member being so disposed that it is held depressed until said stack is entirely clear of the machine; and latch mechanism operative` by the depression ofsaid depressible member foriholding said locking Amechanism active` ico until said stack has beenmoved entirely Y clear of said stacking machine.y

13. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, for causing said driving meansto advance said trav- I'eller; means for stopping said driving means when said traveller has been advanced a designated distance; locking mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller When a stack of predetermined size has been formed; a depressible memberover which said stack is Aremovedv from said stacking machine, said member beingso disposed that it is held depressed until said stack is entirely clear of the machine; and latch mechanism operative by the depression of said depressible member for holding said; locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said'stacking machine.

14. In a stacking machine,the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon'said ,traveller;`means for driving said traveller; starting means, for causing said driving means to advance said trav,- eller; lockin `mechanism for revent-ing the movement o said traveller vv en a stack of predetermined size has been lformed; and -latch mechanism for holding said locking lmechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear lof said stacking machine; a depressible member over which said stack is removed from said stacking machine, said member being so disposed that it is held depressed until said stackk is entirely clear of the machine; and latch mechanism operative by the depression of saidv depressible member for holding said locking mechanism .active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stackin machine. 15. In a stacking machine,l the combina.- tion of: a continuous traveller; carriers disi posed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, for causing said driving means t0 advance said traveller; means for stoplping said drivin means when said traveller as been advance a designated distance; lockin mechanism for preventing the movement o said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed; latch mechanism for holding said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stackin machine; a depressible member over whic said stack is removed from said stacking machine, saidmember being so disposed that it is held depressed until said stack is entirely clear of the machine; and latch mechanism operutiveby the de ressionof said depressible member .for hol ing said locking mechanism active runtil said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stackin machine.

16. In a ,stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means fordriving said traveller, consisting of a cflutch member, and a `cam member arranged to operate said clutch member; starting means, operative in consequence of the placing of an object to be stacked in position to be engaged by one of said carriers, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; means for stopping said driving means When said traveller has been advanced a designated distance; and locking mechanism for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed and latch mechanism for holding said locking mechanism active until said stack/has been moved entirely clear of said stacking machine.

.17. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving saidtraveller, consisting of a clutch member, and a cam member arranged to operate said clutch -member; starting means, for

causing said driving means to advance said traveller; means for stopping said driving means when said traveller has been advanced a designa-ted distance; locking mechanism for .preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has 'been formed; latch mechanism for holding 'that it is held depressed until said stack is entirely clear of the machine; and latch mechanism o erative bythe depression ot' said depressigle member for holding said locking mechanism activek until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stacking machine.

18. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, operative in consequence of the placing of an object to be stacked in position to be engaged by'one of said carriers, for causin said driving means to advance said travel er; and locking mechanism, including and operated by an engagement member placed so as to be envage by objects carried by said carriers,

Ier preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack vof been formed.

19.. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed u Ion said traveller; means for driving sai traveller; starting means, operative in consequence of the placing of an object to be stacked in position to be engaged by one of said carriers, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; and means for stopping said driving means when said traveller has been advanced a desigpredetermined size has nated distance; land locking mechanism, including and operated by an engagement member laced so as' to be engaged by 0bjects carried by said carriers, for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack Opredetermined size has been formed.

20. In a staclring machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon saidtraveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, operative in consequence of the placin of an object to be .stacked in position to he engaged by one of said carriers, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; locking mechanism, including and operated by an engagement member placed so as to be engaged by objects carried by said carriers, forpreventing the movement ofV said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed; and latch mechanism for holding said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stacking machine.

21. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving saidl traveller; starting means, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; and locking mechanism, including and operated by an engagement member laced so as v to be engaged by objects carried y said carriers, for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stackv of predetermined size has been formed.

22. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for driving said traveller; starting means, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; locking mechanism, including and operated by an engagement member placed so as to be engaged by objects carried by said carriers, for preventing the movement of said traveller when a. stack ot' predetermined 'size has been formed and latch mechanisnifor holding'said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stacking machine.

' 23; In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for drivlng said traveller; starting means, for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; locking mechanism, including and operated by an engagement member laced so as to be engaged `by objects carried by said carriers, for preventing the movement j of said traveller when a stack of predeternuned size has been formed; a depresslble member over which said stack is removed fromvsaid stacking machine, said member depression of said depressib e 'member for holding said locking ymechanism active until said stack' has been moved entirely clear of said stacking machine. I

24. In a stacking machine, the combination of :"a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means for drivino' said traveller' starting means for causing said driving means to advance said traveller; means for stopping said driving means when said traveller has been advanced a designated distance; locking mechanism, including and operated by an engagement member placed so as to be engagedby objects carried by said carriers, for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has been formed; a depressible member ,over which said stack is removed from said stacking machine, said member being so disposed that it is held depressed until said. stack is entirely clear of the machine; and'latch mechanism operative by the depression of said depressible member for holding said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of s'aid stacking machine.

I25.l In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller; carriers disposed upon said traveller; means tor driving said traveller; starting means, for' caus- 95 ing said driving means to advance said traveller;A locking `mechanism, including. and' operated by an engagement member placed so as to beengaged by objects carried by said carriers, for preventing the movement of said traveller when a stack of predetermined size has. been formed; and latch mechanism for holding said locking mechanism active until said stack has been moved entirely clear of said stacking machine; a depressible member over which said, stack is removed from said stacking machine, said member being so disposed that it is held depressed until said stack is entirely clear of the machine; and latch mechanism operative by the depression of said depressible member for holding said locking mechanism active until said stach has been moved entirely clear of said stacking-machine.

26. In a stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller adapted to move upwardly on one side and downwardly on another Side of its path of movement; vertically hanging carriers `on said-traveller;

a support for holding objects to be stacked in the ath of said. carriers, as they travel upward y; la platform disposed in the path of the downwardly moving carriers for receivin said objects in superimposed relations 1p to form a stack; a clutch through 125 which said traveller is driven; means'u for operating said clutch; mechanism for rendering said clutch active when an object is placed upon said support; and means for preventing the engagement of said clutch when a stack of designated size has been formed on said platform.

27. In a, stacking machine, the combination of: a continuous traveller adapted to move upwardly on one side and downwardly on another side of its path of movement; vertically hanging carriers on said traveller; a support for holding objects to be stacked -in the path of said carriers as thev travel upwardly; a platform disposed in the path` of the downwardly moving carriers for receiving said objects in superimposed relationship to form a stack; a clutch through which said traveller is driven; means for operating Said clutch; mechanism for rendering said desi nated size has been formed on said plat orm, said means including a. detaining member, a depressible member for receiving the weight of a portative vehicle for removing said stack, and intervening mechanism for actuating said latch when said depressible. member is depressed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 2nd day of November, 1923.

GEORGE WILCOX. 

